Timberwolves 97 - 93 Warriors
Final
  for this game

Timberwolves try to get on track against Warriors

Mar 19, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The slumping Minnesota Timberwolves will try to get their playoff hopes back on track in Oakland Monday night when they visit the Golden State Warriors.

The Wolves have dropped three straight and five of six overall to fall back to the 11th spot in the jumbled Western Conference playoff race, two games behind eighth place Houston.

Minnesota fell to 1-3 on a seven-game road trip with a 115-99 setback in Sacramento on Sunday. All-Star Kevin Love had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves but had to be separated from J.J. Barea after exchanging words with his teammate during a timeout late in the game.

"It's frustrating, but nothing personal against JJ," Love said. "I think we were both frustrated and took it out on each other when we should have took it out on the other team."

Forward Michael Beasley (toe) returned after missing two games and scored 13 points in the loss but the team really missed center Nikola Pekovic, who sat out with a sore left ankle.

Minnesota, which is 10-12 away from the Twin Cities, will finish its trek with visits to San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The club is just 1-4 since losing starting point guard Ricky Rubio for the season to a torn ACL.

The Warriors, meanwhile, have also dropped three straight, including Saturday's 99-92 overtime loss in Salt Lake City o the Jazz.

Nate Robinson finished with 19 points, David Lee scored 18 and rookie Klay Thompson netted 17 for Golden State, which was playing without star guard Stephen Curry, who missed his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle.

Richard Jefferson played his first game as a Warrior after being acquired at the trade deadline for Stephen Jackson and scored nine points off the bench but was a miserable 2-of-14 from the field.

"The frustrating thing is that we had the opportunity to close out the game," remarked Golden State head coach Mark Jackson. "We needed one stop and we didn't get it done. It's disappointing."

Pekovic is listed as questionable tonight for the Timberwolves, while Curry is unlikely to play again for Golden State.

The Warriors have won six of their past seven meetings with Minnesota.






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